Commission to discuss filling director of corrections post

By FREDRICK J. JOHNSON

The Capital-Journal

County commissioners are scheduled to discuss an appointment to the position of director of the Shawnee County Corrections Department during their Thursday meeting. All three said Monday they hoped to name a director during that meeting, although some indicated they may be backing different candidates as their first choice.

The post has been vacant since former director Earl Hindman retired under pressure in March. Deputy director Tom Merkel has been serving as acting director.

Commission Chairman Ted Ensley said commissioners were considering two candidates outside the county's department but working in the state.

Ensley said he hoped a majority of the commission could agree on one of them and get the position filled.

"From my perspective, I hope so," he said. "You never know, but that's what I'd hope would happen."

Ensley said the candidates applied for the job and weren't the result of a professional "head hunter's" search the commission had authorized.

Commissioner Mike Meier said one of the candidates was a woman working as a warden at a prison in the state. He said she had several years of experience and was very impressive during his interview with her.

Meier still likes the professional corrections management firm of GRW Inc. but acknowledges the other commissioners aren't likely to spend the money the firm wants to take over administration of the county department.

GRW is a corrections management firm with corporate headquarters in Brentwood, Tenn., and offices in Topeka and Albuquerque, N.M. Dick Mills, a former secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections, is the company's vice president of operations.

The firm initially offered to run the county's department for $250,000 a year the first year and that base rate plus 80 percent of any cost savings the firm could make through improving efficiency in subsequent years, up to a maximum of $200,000 a year.

Hindman was making about $80,000 annually, including benefits. The county corrections department budget for this year is about $10.5 million.

Commissioner Marice Kane acknowledged Monday that she didn't think the county could afford GRW but said she thought the county still had two qualified candidates among the people up for discussion Thursday.

She did say the second candidate was a man with prison administration experience.

Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday in room B-11 at the Shawnee County Courthouse. The agenda also includes:

- Recognition of sheriff's deputies with five and 10 years of experience.

- A public hearing on the attachment of land to Rural Water District No. 5.

- A resolution for the creation of Capricorn Woods Subdivision No. 2 Street Benefit District.

- A resolution for the creation of Shawnee County Main Sewer District No. 72, Lateral District No. 6 within Capricorn Woods Subdivision No. 2.

- Consider the purchase of five Colt AR-15A3 rifles for the sheriff's department SWAT Team.

- Consider advertising in The Topeka Capital-Journal to thank property owners who provide drop-off locations for the county recycling department.

- Consider a contract for 911 data base services by Southwestern Bell Telephone.

- Consider a contract for maintenance on Southwestern Bell Telephone equipment at the Consolidated Emergency Communications Center.

- Consider a resolution awarding the bids for overlay projects on S.E. 45th Street between Croco and Stubbs roads and on S.E. Croco Road between 45th and 37th streets.

- Consider a resolution awarding the bid for an overlay project at Lake Shawnee and on vicinity roads.

- Consider awarding the bid for two water-softening units for the corrections department.

- Consider a resolution appointing the county clerk as the freedom of information officer for the county.

- Consider a contract with Teamsters Local No. 696 on the clerical wage package for this year.

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